Gaming machine system and method with buttons equipped with modulating lights

ABSTRACT

A gaming machine system is provided including a gaming machine and a plurality of mechanical buttons coupled to the gaming machine capable of being depressed by a user. Also included is a plurality of lights each associated with at least one of the buttons. Further, at least one aspect of the lights is modulated.

RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application claims priority from a provisional application filed Feb. 18, 2005 under App. Ser. No.: 60/654,647, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND AND FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to gaming machines and, more particularly, gaming machine button panels.

Prior art FIG. 1 illustrates a slot gaming machine 100, in accordance with the prior art. As shown, the gaming machine 100 includes a conventional reel-type slot gaming machine 100. It includes an exterior housing 132 and a front face including a gaming machine main display 116, and a belly glass 130.

The main display 116 includes windows 114 each of which displays a single reel assembly of the gaming machine 100. Horizontal pay lines 118 span the windows 114 and allow for a single winning combination. Typically, the main display 116 includes a cathode ray tube (CRT), liquid crystal display (LCD), etc., with a touch screen layer positioned over the main display 116 which may be used to allow user input in lieu of mechanical control.

For mechanical control, player buttons 110, 112, and 124 are provided between the belly glass 130 and main display 116, and allow the player to control operation of the gaming machine 100 in combination with/or in lieu of the associated touch screen. In addition, a lever 104 may be included on one side of the exterior housing 132 to allow a player alternative mechanical control of the gaming machine 100. A coin acceptor 106 and a bill acceptor 108 are provided near the play buttons as shown. Finally, a coin tray 126 is provided near the bottom of the gaming machine 100 to collect coin pay outs from winning plays. Other options may include speakers 102, etc. to enhance play.

In the past, player buttons 110, 112, and 124 have traditionally been limited to emitting a single light color at a single intensity. At best, such light may be turned on (with the single light color and single intensity) upon depression thereof, as shown in FIG. 1. This has provided very simplistic and mundane viewing and use of gaming machines.

There is thus a need for overcoming these and/or other problems associated with the prior art.

SUMMARY

A gaming machine system is provided including a gaming machine and a plurality of mechanical buttons coupled to the gaming machine capable of being depressed by a user. Also included is a plurality of lights each associated with at least one of the buttons. Further, at least one aspect of the lights is modulated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Prior art FIG. 1 illustrates a gaming machine, in accordance with the prior art.

FIG. 2 illustrates a gaming machine, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2, showing the player buttons and associated lights, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the continuous variation in light intensity over time with respect to a light of each player button, in accordance with another embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing the continuous variation of light color over time with respect to a light of each player button, in accordance with yet another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 2 illustrates a gaming machine 200, in accordance with one embodiment. As shown, the gaming machine 200 includes a conventional reel-type slot gaming machine 200. It includes an exterior housing 232 and a front face including a gaming machine main display 216, and a belly glass 230.

Similar to the gaming machine 100 of FIG. 1, the gaming machine 200 includes a conventional reel-type slot gaming machine 200. It should be noted, however, that the gaming machine 200 may take the form of absolutely any game of chance. Thus, gaming machine, in the context of the present description, may refer to slot machines, automatic roulettes, blackjack, and/or any type of game of chance.

Thus, the present reel-type slot gaming machine embodiment is set forth for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting in any manner. To this end, any (or none) of the features of the present reel-type slot gaming machine embodiment may be incorporated into the gaming machine, and still fall within the scope of the claims.

As shown, the gaming machine main display 216 includes windows 214 each of which displays a single reel assembly of the slot gaming machine 200. Horizontal pay lines 218 span the windows and allow for a single winning combination. The main display 216 includes a cathode ray tube (CRT), liquid crystal display (LCD), etc., with an optional touch screen layer positioned over the display which may be used to allow user input in lieu of and/or in combination with mechanical control.

For mechanical control, player buttons 210, 212, and 224 are provided between the belly glass 230 and main display 216 and allow the player to control operation of the gaming machine 200. In addition, a lever 204 may be included on one side of the exterior housing 232 to allow a player alternative control of the gaming machine 200. A coin acceptor 206 and a bill acceptor 208 are further provided near the play buttons, as shown. Finally, a coin tray 226 is provided near the bottom of slot gaming machine 200 to collect coin pay outs from winning plays. Other options may include speakers 202, etc. to enhance play.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2, showing the player buttons 210, 212, and 224 and associated lights 306, in accordance with one embodiment. Again, the present buttons 210, 212, and 224 and associated lights 306 may be implemented in the context of the gaming machine 200 of FIG. 2 or, in other embodiments, implemented in any desired context.

As shown, the player buttons 210, 212, and 224 each include a light 306 capable of emitting light. In one embodiment, the light may include a light emitting diode (LED), LED-alternatives such an electroluminescent light, incandescent light, etc. and/or any other type of light capable of emitting light. It should further be noted that the lights 306 may take the form of single-colored, multiple-colored, and/or colorless lights 306. Still yet, the player buttons 210, 212, and 224 may each include multiple lights. Thus, the use of a single light associated with each player button, in the manner shown in FIG. 3, should not be construed as limiting in any way.

With continuing reference to FIG. 3, the player buttons 210, 212, and 224 (and the associated lights 306) are shown to be coupled to a controller 304 (i.e. a computer, microprocessor, integrated circuit, circuit board, button board, analog or digital circuitry, and/or any desired type of logic or the like) for controlling the lights 306 such that at least one aspect of the lights 306 is modulated.

In the context of the present description, the at least one aspect of the lights 306 that is modulated may include intensity, color, and/or any other aspect capable of being modulated. Further, such modulation, in the present description, may refer to any modulating, changing, altering, varying, adjusting, etc. of the at least one aspect.

Optionally, the light intensity may be controlled by way of pulse-width modulation techniques, which are capable of controlling the brightness of LED's. Further, in another embodiment, analog to digital (A/D) converter technology may be utilized in the present context. Of course any technique may be used that is capable of controlling the intensity, brightness, color, or any other aspect of the light.

To this end, more attractive and functionally superior player buttons 210, 212, and 224 (and associated lights 306) are provided. More information on optional features associated with the aforementioned lights 306 will now be set forth. Such additional details are set forth for illustrative purposes only, and should not be construed as limiting in any manner.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the continuous variation in light intensity over time with respect to a light (e.g. light 306 of FIG. 3, etc.) of each player button (e.g. player button 210, 212, 224 of FIG. 3, etc.), in accordance with another embodiment. The light associated with each player button is capable of varying in intensity 402 as time 404 progresses. As shown, the light intensity may change at a constant rate, such that the change in intensity is gradual. Of course, the light intensity may change at any rate, or may not even change at all.

Further, the intensity 402 of the light is capable of changing by increasing to a maximum intensity 406 and then decreasing to a minimum intensity 408 in a continuous, cyclical (i.e. sinusoidal, etc.) manner. Still yet, the intensity of the light associated with each player button may change individually or collectively with the other player buttons.

For example, the intensity variations may be random and uncoordinated for each player button. In the alternative, such intensity variations may be synchronized so that the intensity of each player bottom top and bottom out at the same time. The intensity variations may even be a predetermined amount out-of-phase, in order to provide a “rippling” effect among the player buttons. Just by way of example, the intensities may be 60 degrees out-of-phase among three player buttons, in order to maximize this effect.

These options allow for a continuous pattern of change in light intensity that is attractive to prospective players of the gaming machine. More information on optional techniques of color modulation will now be set forth. Such additional details may or may not be used in conjunction with the foregoing intensity modulation. Further, it should be noted the foregoing intensity-related features may be applied in the context of color. In a similar manner, the following color-related features may used to modulate intensity in the manner described.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing the continuous variation of light color over time with respect to a light (e.g. light 306 of FIG. 3, etc.) of each player button (e.g. player button 210, 212, 224 of FIG. 3, etc.), in accordance with yet another embodiment. As shown, the light associated with each player button is capable of changing color as time progresses.

In particular, in one embodiment, the light associated with each player button may change from red 504 to blue 506 to green 508 as time progresses, in a continuous manner. As shown in FIG. 5, each of three player buttons may show a different color (i.e. red, green, blue) at each instant in time. Further, the change from each color to the next may either be abrupt (i.e. instantly), or gradual (i.e. in a sinusoidal, etc.).

Of course, it should be understood that any pattern of color change, or even no color change may be used with respect to each of the player buttons.

As an option, the color and intensity variations may be either independently or dependently modulated. For example, any color changes (i.e. from one color to the next, etc.) may occur when the intensity of the associated button is at a lowest level.

As yet another option, the foregoing color and/or intensity modulation may operate in a first mode when the corresponding gaming machine is not in use. In such first mode, any of the foregoing modulations may occur in an automatic manner to attract play.

The color and/or intensity modulation may also operate in a second mode, during play of the gaming machine by a user. In the second mode, the color and/or intensity modulation may vary as a function of player input and any win accomplished on the gaming machine, in order to maintain play. For example, upon depression of one of the player buttons, such button may peak in intensity and/or change color, and/or may even deviate from coordination with respect to the remaining player buttons. Further, there may be a special third mode, whereby the lights modulate in a specific manner to indicate a win.

While various embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of a preferred embodiment should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents. 

1. A gaming machine system, comprising: a gaming machine; a plurality of mechanical buttons coupled to the gaming machine and capable of being depressed by a user; and a plurality of lights each associated with at least one of the buttons; wherein at least one aspect of the lights is modulated.
 2. The gaming machine system of claim 1, wherein the aspect includes color.
 3. The gaming machine system of claim 1, wherein the aspect includes intensity.
 4. The gaming machine system of claim 1, wherein the aspect includes brightness.
 5. The gaming machine system of claim 1, wherein the modulation includes pulse-width modulation.
 6. A computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium, comprising: computer code for modulating at least one aspect of a plurality of lights each associated with at least one of a plurality of buttons coupled to a gaming machine and capable of being depressed by a user.
 7. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the aspect includes color.
 8. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the aspect includes intensity.
 9. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the aspect includes brightness.
 10. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the modulation includes pulse-width modulation.
 11. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the modulation includes at least one of continuous and cyclical modulation.
 12. A method, comprising: modulating at least one aspect of a plurality of lights each associated with at least one of a plurality of buttons coupled to a gaming machine and capable of being depressed by a user.
 13. The method of claim 14, wherein the aspect includes color.
 14. The method of claim 14, wherein the aspect includes intensity.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the aspect includes brightness.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the modulation includes pulse-width modulation.
 17. The method of claim 14, wherein the modulation includes at least one of continuous and cyclical modulation. 